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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #140648
Title: SUITABILITY OF SELECTED CROPS AND SOIL FOR GARDEN SYMPHYLAN (SYMPHYLA, SCUTIGERELLIDAE: SCUTIGERELLA IMMACULATA NEWPORT) POPULATION GROWTH

Author
item UMBLE, JON - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item Fisher, James

Submitted to: Applied Soil Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2003
Publication Date: 10/1/2003
Citation: Umble, J.R., Fisher, J.R. Suitability of selected crops and soil for garden symphylan (Symphyla, Scutigerellidae: Scutigerella immaculata Newport) population growth. Applied Soil Ecology. 2003. v24 p.151-163.

Interpretive Summary: The suitability of selected crops and soil for garden symphylan population growth was studied in the laboratory and field. In the laboratory, we measured the population increase of garden symphylans in pots of spinach, tomato, sweet corn, potato and soil alone. Population growth was lower on potato than on spinach, corn, tomato or soil alone. In the field, the temporal trend of garden symphylan populations appeared to be related to the crop which was grown. Populations dramatically decreased in potatoes as compared with sweet corn. We feel that these results provide strong evidence that crop rotation may significantly influence S. immaculata population levels.

Technical Abstract: The suitability of selected crops and soil for garden symphylan (Scutigerella immaculata Newport) population growth was studied in the laboratory and field. In the laboratory, we measured the population increase of S. immaculata after 8 w from a starting density of 35 in pots of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L., var. Bloomsdale Savoy), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., var. Early Girl), sweet corn (Zea mays, L. var. Early Sunglow), potato (Solanum tuberosum L., var. Russet Burbank) and soil alone. Population growth was significantly greater on spinach than on tomato, sweet corn, potato or soil alone, and significantly lower on potato than on spinach, corn, tomato or soil alone. In the field, temporal population trends were characterized by sampling S. immaculata twice-weekly through the growing season of sweet corn (var. Early Sunglow) in 2000, and of potato (var. Russet Burbank) / squash (Cucurbita pepo L. var. Delicata) and corn / squash rotations in 2001 and 2002. Temporal population trends appeared to be related to crop species present, with populations dramatically decreasing in 2001 in potatoes (var. Russet Burbank) as compared with sweet corn (var. Early Sunglow) or clean fallow. We feel that these results provide strong evidence that crop rotation may significantly influence S. immaculata population levels.